Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #711 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-01-08
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 96 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
There was a rare magic on the big screen in 1995, when the people at Pixar came up with the first fully computer-animated film, Toy Story, and their second feature film, A Bug's Life, may miss the bull's-eye but Pixar's target is so lofty that it's hard to find the film anything less than irresistible. Brighter and more colourful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (Antz), A Bug's Life is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help--a hearty bunch of bug warriors--and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just travelling performers, afraid of conflict. As with Toy Story, the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybird, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick insect and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible woodlice. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big soft spot for Flik. More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise in store for the villain. However, the film--a worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in Saving Private Ryan. --Doug Thomas

Video Description
DVD Special Features

Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Two sets of hilarious outtakes
Pixar's 1997 Academt Award
Winning Geri's Game
Side A: Full Frame - 1.33:1
Side B: WIdescreen - 2.35:1
Language in Dolby Digital 5.1: English
Subtitles: English/English Closed Captioned

Synopsis
The computer animation crew at Pixar--the creators of TOY STORY--return with another feature rife with stunningly rendered worlds populated by cute critters you can't help but care about. The story is simple--an ant colony led by Flik (Dave Foley) seeks help from a flea circus and other insects in their struggles against the oppressive grasshopper bullies led by Hopper (Kevin Spacey). However, as with TOY STORY, there is as much for adults to enjoy here as there is for the kids. (In fact, the story is loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's classic SEVEN SAMURAI.) And don't miss the wonderful "outtakes" that roll with the closing credits!

Customer Reviews

Quality - both in presentation and storyline
I never thought the day would come when computer animation would really get this good. The presentation of the grahpics and sound is perfect. And I really mean perfect. Add to that an excellent all-action storyline with nail-biting chases, the ultimate big-bad-wolf character and even a bit of "she's too good for me" romance makes this a great film for adults. Oh, and the kids might like it too.

A superb animation classic again from Pixar.
It's based vaguely around the 'Magnificent Seven' storyline: a group of goodies are hired to protect a village and overcome adversity.

It's similar to 'Antz' in some respects (being an individual in an ant colony, team working but with freethinking etc).

The characters are varied and memorable.

It's not as funny as say 'Toy Story' but with a better story I feel. It's aimed more for kids than other animated films with a host of 'adult' jokes.

The extras are a bit disappointing- but only comparing it to other great packages (am I being too greedy nowadays?)

Enjoyable- my two year old girl likes it too!

Highly Underated
This films one of those gems which seems to play second fiddle in a companies back catalogue. OK so it isn't as reveared as Toy Story 1 or 2 and it did come out just after DreamWorks Antz but it is Pixar at its best. Although with technology moving very fast in digital film-making it may lack some of the fine detail of Sullys hair in Monsters Inc. But take another look.

The SE version has been available in the US for over a year and it has finally arrived in the UK. It is worth a good look, the packaging does let the promotion down somewhat as there is no mention of the informative commentary by the production team. The proof in this well formed pudding is the cast of Bugs and the spot on voice selections. From Kevin Spaceys fantastic bad guy Hopper to Dennis Leary as Francis the male ladybird. Each charater has its own identity which make for a good story.

But talking of Good Stories this is the classic Seven Samuri in Miniature. It you like classic stories then this is what you need. OK its been done before in Battle Beyond the Stars and The Three Amigos but it is a classic story.

The Animation is superb with the detail shining through - the rain sequence, Flick's Dandylion seed flight and the thriving Bug City complete with Gershwinesque music score.

This has the sentiment of Toy Story but with the Sentimentality and fortunately without any songs - HURRAH! Randy Newman please just songs at the end please no more in the middle.

A Hidden Gem in the Pixar Back Catalogue. Now please release the early Pixar Shorts! They are fantastic!